Crossbow cocking device

ABSTRACT

A crossbow with a crossbow cocking device for cocking a bow string in which the cocking device includes a lever and link mechanism for moving the bow string to cocked position preparatory to shooting an arrow aligned on the stock of the crossbow, the lever being pivoted at one end to the stock of the crossbow and the link being pivoted at one end to the lever and having means at its other end for engaging the bow string. The lever when pivoted rearwardly may selectively engage and pivot the trigger and release the bowstring into engagement with the means on the other end of the link so that, if desired, the bowstring can be moved from a cocked position to an untensioned position without firing of an arrow.

United States Patent Firestone June 20, 1972 [54] CROSSBOW COCKING DEVICE 3,142,294 7/1964 Baldwin ..124/27 x {72] Inventor: Max Firestone, 26151 Lake Shore Blvd., Primary Examiner Richard cpinkham Euchd Ohm 44132 Assistant Examiner\lVilliam R. Browne 221 Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 Attorney-Webster Harpman [21] Appl. No.: 117,228 57 ABSTRACT A crossbow with a crossbow cocking device for cocking a bow [52] US. Cl ..l24/25, 124/41, 124/35 string in which the cocking device includes a lever and link [51] Int. Cl ..F4lb 5/00 mechanism for moving the bow string to cocked position [58] Field of Search ..l24/25, 24, 23, 35, 40, 4|, preparatory to shooting an arrow aligned on the stock of the 124/27, 28, 26, l3, 14, 15 30 R crossbow, the lever being pivoted at one end to the stock of the crossbow and the link being pivoted at one end to the lever 5 References Ci and having means at its other end for engaging the bow string. The lever when pivoted rearwardly may selectively engage UNITED STATES PATENTS and pivot the trigger and release the bowstring into engagement with the means on the other end of the link so that, if Lefever desired, the bowstfing can be moved from a cocked position 2,786,461 2/1957 PCISUC 124/25 to an unmnsioned position without firing of an arrow 2,815,016 12/1957 Kellogg... .124/23 X 2,939,449 6/ l 960 Kortick 124/28 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEnJunzo m2 3. 670. 71 1 sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR. Max F/reszone ATTORNEY.

PATENTl-Znwm 1912 v 3,670,711

sum 20F 2 INVENTOR. Max Flreslorze BY W ATTORNEY.

CROSSBOW COCKING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1; Field of the Invention This invention relates to crossbows as used by sportsman and others for shooting arrows and more specifically to cocking devices for such crossbows.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior structures of this type have employed various means for moving the bow string to cocked position. These include direct pull devices as seen in US. Pat. Nos. 2,520,7l3 and 2,786,461. A lever actuated ratchet utilizing a flexible chain for the desired purpose is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,287 and a construction in which a coil spring is moved into and out of cocked position by a lever is seen in US. Pat. No. 3,028,85l.

This invention eliminates the direct pull, the ratchet chain mechanism and the use of a coil spring and means for cocking the same and provides an easier, quicker means for cocking a crossbow, while at the same time, enabling the bow string to be returned to normal untensioned position if desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A crossbow structure incorporating a lever and link mechanism for cocking the bow string and tensioning the crossbow itself includes a stock having longitudinally extending guide means thereon inwardly from the crossbow carried thereby and a link arranged to engage the guide means and the bow string and pivotally attached to a lever which, in turn, is pivotally attached to the stock of the crossbow structure so that arcuate motion imparted the lever, moves the link and one end thereof in the guide means to engage the bow string and move it to a cocked position where it is held by a trigger mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation with parts in cross-section illustrating a crossbow and a cocking mechanism in inoperative position.

FIG. 2 is a similar side elevation showing the cocking mechanism at the beginning of its travel in a cocking action.

FIG. 3 is a similar side elevation showing the cocking mechanism in cocked position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevation of the crossbow with parts broken away.

FIG. 5 is a top elevation of the crossbow with the cocking mechanism in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front end view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT By referring to FIG. I of the drawings the crossbow of the present invention may be seen to comprise a stock 10 having a forward end 11 and a rearward end 12. A transverse slot 13 is formed in the upper surface of the stock 10 inwardly from the forward end 11 for the reception of a crossbow l4 and a pair of oppositely disposed slotted metal plates 15 are secured to the stock 10 in alignment with the slot 13 to define said slot and directly receive said crossbow 14.

A pair of channel members 16 are affixed to the opposite sides of the stock 10 and the forward ends 17 of the channel members 16 are inclined downwardly and forwardly. The channel members 16 and their inclined portions 17 extend forwardly beyond the horizontal non-cocked position of a bow string 18 and rearwardly to a position past a trigger mechanism which is partially illustrated and indicated by the numeral 19.

A lever 20 is pivoted as at 21 to the stock 10 with the forward end of the lever 20 normally disposed below the inclined portions 17 of the channel members 16 where it is provided with a manually operable latch 22 which acts to releasably secure it to the stock l0.

As may be seen by referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings the lever 20 is formed of a pair of spaced members which are positioned one on each side of the stock 10 where they engage the pivot 21. A pair of links 23 are pivoted at 24 to the lever 20 and are so positioned that they lie along side the stock 10 with their upper ends provided with rollers 25 engaging the oppositely disposed channel members 16.

By referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of drawings it will thus be seen that by releasing the latch 22 and moving the lever 20 downwardly and rearwardly in an arc the links 23 move relative thereto with their upper ends carrying the rollers 25 moving initially in the inclined portions 17 of the channel members 16 and then longitudinally thereof.

It will further be seen that there are hooks 26 on the forward or upper ends of the links 23 which will move into engagement with the bow string 18 when the links 23 move as hereinbefore described.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings the hooks 26 are shown initially engaging the bow string 26 and in FIG. 3 of the drawings the links 23 have been moved to the rearward ends of the channel members 16 and the bow string 18 has been moved thereby to the trigger mechanism 19 where it is retained until released by trigger action. 1

It will thus be seen that a link and leverage mechanism has been disclosed in connection with a crossbow which may be advantageously used for cocking the same and it will occur to those skilled in the art that the addition of a handle H to the forward end 11 of the stock may be advantageously used in holding the crossbow while it is being cocked.

Those skilled in the art will observe that in most instances an arrow loaded into a crossbow in front of a cocked bow string such as 18 in the present invention is discharged by releasing the bow string by the trigger mechanism. In the present instance, the arrow is retained in alignment with the upper surface thereof by a longitudinal guide channel 27 formed in the stock and it will occur to those skilled in the art that permanent magnets may be positioned in the guide channel as indicated by the numeral 28 so that a ferrous metal collar on an arrow, not shown, will be retained by the magnet and the arrow held in desired position on the stock of the crossbow.

In the event the crossbow is not fired and the arrow released in flight and it is necessary to unload the crossbow and release the tension of the crossbow l4 and the bow string 15, the present disclosure provides a unique device for accomplishing this purpose.

By referring to FIGS. 1 or 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the trigger 19 which depends below the stock and is used for triggering the mechanism, not shown, which releases the bow string 18 is provided with a transversely movable pin 29. An L shaped fitting 30 is positioned between a head on the pin 29 and the side of the trigger 19 so that by partially rotating the fitting 30 the pin 29 may be held in sidewardly projecting relation to the trigger 19 or alternately, positioned inwardly with respect thereof. When it is in projecting position moving the lever 20 and links 23 to cocking position as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings will cause the pin 29 to be engaged by one of the links 23 which will initially move the trigger 19 rearwardly so as to release the trigger mechanism that has been restraining the bow string 18. Since the hooks 26 on the levers 23 are in cocking position the bow string 18 is released into the hooks 26 and the lever 20 and links 23 may then be returned to the position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings which will slowly and safely unload the tension of the crossbow l4 and bow string 18 and permit the arrow to be removed without having been shot from the crossbow.

The crossbow of the present invention is also equipped with a safety bolt 31 which may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings and which is provided with an L shaped end which is moved into trigger restraining or trigger freeing position by partial rotation and axial motion imparted manually to the locking bolt 31 as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and having thus described my invention.

What l claim is:

l. A crossbow including a bowstring, a stock portion grooved for the reception of an arrow adapted for shooting with the bow string of the crossbow, a lever pivoted at one end to said stock portion, a link pivoted at one end thereof to said lever, first means on said stock portion for guiding said link, second means on said link engaging said first means for permitting said second means to be guided through a path described by said first means, third means on the other end of said link for releasably engaging said bow string, fourth means in said stock portion for releasably holding said bow string, whereby said fourth means being selectively operable by said link during a cocking action of said lever to release said bow string from said fourth means and into engagement with said third means whereby the bow string may be moved from a retracted position to an untensioned position without firing of an arrow.

2. The crossbow set forth in claim 1 and wherein said first means comprises a pair of outwardly facing channels secured to the sides of said stock portion.

3. The crossbow set forth in claim 1 and wherein said first means comprises a pair of outwardly facing channels secured to the sides of said stock forwardly and downwardly inclined portions formed in said channels whereby the third means and other end of said link may be moved to a position below the upper portion of said stock so as to be free of interference with said bow string.

4. The crossbow set forth in claim 1 and wherein the trigger mechanism includes a depending trigger, a movable pin positioned transversely of said trigger and means on said trigger for holding said pin in sidewardly extending position relative thereto and whereby the operation of said fourth means by said link to release the bowstring will occur when said link engages said sidewardly extending pin.

5. The crossbow set forth in claim 1 and wherein the lever is formed of two arms pivoted to the opposite sides of said stock and a latch mechanism is provided at the forward ends of said lever for engaging said stock to hold said lever inoperative and wherein the links comprise two arms pivoted to said lever. 

1. A crossbow including a bowstring, a stock portion grooved for the reception of an arrow adapted for shooting with the bow string of the crossbow, a lever pivoted at one end to said stock portion, a link pivoted at one end thereof to said lever, first means on said stock portion for guiding said link, second means on said link engaging said first means for permitting said second means to be guided through a path described by said first means, third means on the other end of said link for releasably engaging said bow string, fourth means in said stock portion for releasably holding said bow string, whereby said fourth means being selectively operable by said link during a cocking action of said lever to release said bow string from said fourth means and into engagement with said third means whereby the bow string may be moved from a retracted position to an untensioned position without firing of an arrow.
 2. The crossbow set forth in claim 1 and wherein said first means comprises a pair of outwardly facing channels secured to the sides of said stock portion.
 3. The crossbow set forth in claim 1 and wherein said first means comprises a pair of outwardly facing channels secured to the sides of said stock forwardly and downwardly inclined portions formed in said channels whereby the third means and other end of said link may be moved to a position below the upper portion of said stock so as to be free of interference with said bow string.
 4. The crossbow set forth in claim 1 and wherein the trigger mechanism includes a depending trigger, a movable pin positioned transversely of said trigger and means on said trigger for holding said pin in sidewardly extending position relative thereto and whereby the operation of said fourth means by said link to release the bowstring will occur when said link engages said sidewardly extending pin.
 5. The crossbow set forth in claim 1 and wherein the lever is formed of two arms pivoted to the opposite sides of said stock and a latch mechanism is provided at the forward ends of said lever for engaging said stock to hold said lever inoperative and wherein the links comprise two arms pivoted to said lever. 